Hotel Star Rating Explained...

Booking your luxury once-in-a-lifetime getaway? Or just want a weekend budget holiday? Look no further, here is the five star hotel rating system explained…

Ever wondered what makes a five star hotel stay different from a four star experience? Price difference of course, but what else?

With a greater number of hotels on offer and a more confusing than ever star rating system, it’s not surprising so many are overwhelmed when it comes to booking their luxury ‘five’ star experience.

Hotel ratings are mostly used to classify hotels according to their quality. So the higher the number of stars, the greater the luxury. Everything from food service, entertainment, view, room size, spa, fitness centre and ease of access and location are criteria in hotel rankings/standards. International hotel rating systems are as diverse as the countries themselves however, meaning that a four-star hotel in Nigeria might be regarded as a three-star hotel in the UK.

In France, for example, three-star double rooms must be at least 10 square metres – which is tiny! There must be a lift in buildings with three or more storeys, and a phone in the room, but only 80% of the rooms need to have an en-suite bathroom.

In Italy, where the regulations are extremely detailed – right down to the requirement for a spare roll of lavatory paper (all stars) – a three-star hotel must offer porters for bags at least 12 out of 24 hours, but it doesn’t indicate what the quality of the service has to be.

While Nigeria may not have its own hotel regulation industry, most of the five star hotels will subscribe to an international standard that they can boast they are part of.

Five star Hotels in Nigeria

Top class 5 star hotels in Nigeria are aimed at travellers who want luxury, world class service and facilities. Common features of five star hotels apart from the high room rates is the presence of an indoor or outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, amazing views from the balconies, 24 hour room service, provision of a PC with free internet access and other features worth your money.

International hotel chains in Nigeria like Intercontinental, Starwood, Hilton, Accor and Hyatt fall into this category. Federal Palace Hotel and the Wheatbaker also both boast five star ratings.

Four Star Hotels in Nigeria

Four star hotels in Nigeria are mostly owned and run by the local hotel industry. You may find a significantly lower price than the 5 star international category but a similar standard of luxury. Comparably, the best 4 star hotels in Nigeria can compete with 3 star hotels outside Nigeria. So if you’re looking for luxury but still need to watch your budget, choose from some of the many 4 star hotels on offer in Nigeria.

The Moorhouse, Radisson Blu, Blowfish Hotel and Four Points all boast four stars.

Mid Class Hotels in Nigeria

The three star class hotels in Nigeria will offer suitable rooms for extraordinary low prices. If you need a hotel which will offer comfort such as air conditioning, a refrigerator, television etc without the added ‘luxury’ and of course without putting a dent in your wallet. These tend to be the most common in Nigeria so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a good one.

The Protea, Parkview Astoria and Ibis are amongst the four star hotels you might find for a reasonable price.

Budget Class HotelsIf you’re looking for a no-frills option- just somewhere with four walls where you can lay your head with no fuss, small budget hotels will offer you a room for as low as N2000. You may even find some gem guesthouses that compete favourably with three star hotels. Just put in a search and you will find scores of budget class hotels on offer.

So whether you’re in the market for a luxurious holiday or simply a budget weekend getaway, know what to look for and how much you’ll pay and then... bon voyage!